Italian authorities announced on Thursday that they had blocked and revoked 3,339 applications for the entry of non-EU workers into the country as part of an investigation into organized crime-driven illegal immigration. According to a joint statement by the Carabinieri and Guardia di Finanza, 142 Italian companies in agriculture, construction, and home care industries were found to have submitted fraudulent applications to hire non-EU workers.
The investigation, led by anti-Mafia prosecutors in Salerno, revealed that these companies were being exploited by local criminal organizations to smuggle migrants into Italy. In July, authorities confiscated one million euros in cash tied to these operations. As a preventive measure, police have enabled 29 provinces to halt ongoing permit approvals and annul previously granted permits linked to the fraudulent applications.
The development comes amid broader efforts by Italy to combat irregular migration. Last month, the Italian interior minister announced plans by the Group of Seven (G7) nations to establish specialized police units to investigate human trafficking. This initiative aims to address the persistent issue of illegal migrant flows.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government, holding the G7 presidency this year, has prioritized cooperation with the European Union and African countries to target human traffickers. As part of this strategy, Meloni signed an agreement with Albania to establish migrant reception centers there. However, her government’s flagship plan to curb irregular migration has faced hurdles, with Italian court rulings undermining some of its measures.
This crackdown underscores the government’s ongoing struggle to balance its migration control agenda with legal and logistical challenges, as Italy continues to deal with the complexities of managing irregular arrivals.
